Drew Brees confident Saints' Jimmy Graham 'will be ready' Week 1

5:02 PM,
Mar. 18, 2014

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates with teammate tight end Jimmy Graham (80) following a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 42-17.

Written by

Tom Pelissero
USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he has "no doubt" tight end and teammate Jimmy Graham will be on the field for Week 1, no matter how his franchise-tag fight plays out.

Running back Darren Sproles won't be there, though. And Brees made clear in an interview with two reporters Tuesday at the NFL Players Association's annual meetings that Sproles is one key part of the Saints offense they won't be able to replace.

"I think a Darren Sproles only comes around once in your lifetime, in my career and in everybody's career," Brees said of the quicksilver back, whom the Saints traded to the ...